Staying Warm This Winter Thanks to Your Generosity
Jan. 2, 2008 — -- The winter has been colder than usual in Idyllwild, Calif., this year.
Many families that rely on the Idyllwild Help Center for food and clothing are also in desperate need of coats.
Nearby, coats are being brought into the Cathedral City, California Burlington Coat Factory by generous donors wanting only to help, not knowing where their coats will end up.
Susan Young donated one of her old favorites, a red wool coat. "It's really warm, I just don't wear it anymore," she said. "There's a lot of homeless and needy people out there that need jackets."
The day of Young's drop-off more than 180 coats made their way to the Idyllwild Help Center.
Susan's red coat found its way to Leisa Woods, a working mother with seven children.
"It's new. It feels new. It's warm like it's new. It's pretty like it's new," Woods said with a smile as she tried on the coat and found that it fit well.
"They kept me from worrying, they're keeping my kids from getting sick. They keep me from getting sick. They're just my unsung heroes," Woods said.
Young's coat is just one of more than 80,000 that have been donated to the Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive and that are making their way to needy individuals.
"Good Morning America," together with retailer Burlington Coat Factory and the nonprofit organization One Warm Coat, aims to help those in need with its Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive, which launched Dec. 6.
Donations are accepted at more than 400 Burlington Coat Factory stores across the country, as well as outside "Good Morning America's" Times Square Studio location. Click here to find a Burlington Coat Factory near you.
Visitors and viewers can feel free to stop by and drop off a coat inside a bin during the show's broadcast. The coats don't have to be brand new. The drive will accept gently used coats, too.
Other types of outer wear are also acceptable and appreciated, like sweaters, jackets and sweat shirts. Even hats or gloves could help someone stay warm this season.
